Georgia storms past Vanderbilt, 48-3

PAUL NEWBERRY

Sunday

Sep 23, 2012 at 12:45 AM

ATHENS - When Aaron Murray steps to the line, he feels a sense of calm that comes from experience.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to have weapons all around.

Murray completed his first 12 passes and got plenty of help from the rest of the offense, leading No. 5 Georgia to its most complete performance of the season in a 48-3 rout of Vanderbilt on Saturday night.

"He's playing terrific," receiver Marlon Brown said. "He's like a field general, just sitting up there making all the reads."

Murray hooked up with Brown and Tavarres King on touchdown throws, breaking a tie with Eric Zeier for second place in school history. The fourth-year junior has 69 career TDs, just three behind David Greene.

Murray also scored on a 1-yard sneak as the Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) raced to a 27-0 lead in the first half. He finished 18 of 24 for 250 yards.

"I've gotten a lot of reps the last three years," Murray said. "The more plays you see, the more the game slows down."

But there was more to this offensive performance than another big night for the quarterback.

A lot more.

Georgia's freshmen backs had another outstanding game. Todd Gurley rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns, including a 29-yard score in which he broke at least four tackles. Keith Marshall had a 52-yard TD among his two scoring runs.

"I'm just trying not to let one man bring me down," Gurley said.

Brown hauled in a 6-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, finishing with five catches for 114 yards. Eight other players had at least one reception.

The defense wasn't too shabby, either. Star linebacker Jarvis Jones returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous week with a groin injury. He didn't feel 100 percent, but he still managed three tackles behind the line, including a sack.

Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-2) took its worst defeat since a 48-0 loss to Tennessee in 2003. The Commodores were outgained in total yards 567-337.

The Bulldogs had struggled a bit in the opening half of their first three games, trailing Missouri at the break and allowing a total of 30 points to Buffalo and Florida Atlantic.

No such concerns this time. This one was over by halftime.

Georgia has scored more than 40 points in its first four games for the first time in school history. Murray and most of the other starters went to the bench by the end of the third quarter, the Bulldogs even giving walk-on Parker Welch some time at quarterback

Jordan Rodgers started at quarterback for Vanderbilt after watching from the bench the previous week while transfer Austyn Carta-Samuels guided the Commodores to a 58-0 blowout of lower-division Presbyterian.

A year ago, Georgia barely hung on against the Commodores in Nashville, surviving two shots at the end zone after Vanderbilt blocked a punt in the closing seconds.

Afterward, the bad blood from a chippy game spilled over to the coaches, with Commodores head coach James Franklin getting into a shouting match on the field with Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.

The officials lined the 50-yard line during pregame warmups, making sure the two teams stayed apart. There was no chance for any carry-over once the game started.

Georgia was in control all the way, ending a streak of close SEC losses for the Commodores. Their past five conference defeats were by a total of 23 points.

"We've moved on. It's over with," said Grantham, who had defiantly refused to apologize for what happened the previous year. "To hold any team to no TDs in this league, that's a big statement."

Vanderbilt0300-3

Georgia1314210-48

First Quarter

Geo-Gurley 4 run (Morgan kick), 9:54.

Geo-Marshall 52 run (run failed), 2:20.

Second Quarter

Geo-King 22 pass from Murray (Morgan kick), 12:34.

Geo-Murray 1 run (Morgan kick), 5:17.

Van-FG Spear 29, :20.

Third Quarter

Geo-Brown 6 pass from Murray (Morgan kick), 9:04.

Geo-Marshall 2 run (Morgan kick), 6:03.

Geo-Gurley 29 run (Morgan kick), :46.

A-92,746.

VanGeo

First downs1527

Rushes-yards36-10647-302

Passing231265

Comp-Att-Int14-25-019-26-0

Return Yards044

Punts-Avg.9-45.75-40.2

Fumbles-Lost3-10-0

Penalties-Yards11-687-47

Time of Possession27:5332:07

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Vanderbilt, Stacy 12-83, Rodgers 13-9, Tate 8-8,

Norman 2-7, Carta-Samuels 1-(minus 1). Georgia, Gurley 16-130,

Marshall 10-82, Malcome 6-41, Samuel 5-27, Mitchell 1-16, LeMay 1-5,

Murray 4-5, Harton 2-(minus 2), Team 2-(minus 2).

PASSING-Vanderbilt, Rodgers 13-23-0-218, Carta-Samuels 1-2-0-13.

Georgia, Murray 18-24-0-250, Welch 1-2-0-15.

RECEIVING-Vanderbilt, Matthews 8-119, Boyd 4-110, Grady 1-5,

Stacy 1-(minus 3). Georgia, Brown 5-114, King 4-58, McGowan 2-26,

Marshall 2-11, Bennett 2-10, Wooten 1-26, Conley 1-13, Gurley 1-13,

Mitchell 1-(minus 6).

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